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September 8, 2006 at 10:36 am #2257155
The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
Lockedby Jay Garmon · about 17 years, 7 months ago
TechRepublic is going to start selling TR T-Shirts!
After a several rounds of internal competition and debate, we’ve narrowed our first TR T-Shirt design to three candidates. One of these will make the cut for a full production run to be sold through our catalogue (where all those Books & CDs come from). If this first run is successful, we’ll consider expanding the business into additional designs and additional types of TR swag. Thus, the choice of the first TR T-Shirt is a heady one–it must be successful. That’s where the TRIs come in.
Which of these three designs would you be most likely to buy, and would recommend for your fellow IT pros?
Design #1 – “That’s not a cupholder.”
http://techrepublic.com.com/i/tr/tshirtDesign/comp_cupholder.gifDesign #2 – “Know your rights”
http://techrepublic.com.com/i/tr/tshirtDesign/comp_know_your_rights_2.gifDesign #3 – “Panic button”
http://techrepublic.com.com/i/tr/tshirtDesign/comp_panicButton.gifVote in this discussion. Type the design number you prefer in the title of your reply, then explain yourself in the message body.
Your vote counts, and will have a direct impact on the future of TR swag. Voting will close on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 11:00 am Eastern (GMT minus 5 hours). We look forward to your feedback.
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September 8, 2006 at 10:49 am #3201203
“Know your rights”
by charliespencer · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
A bit wordy but it sums up tech support quite accurately.
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September 8, 2006 at 2:04 pm #3201118
problem with the design
by apotheon · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to “Know your rights”
The police car lights at the top (at least, I hope that’s what those are) are not terribly obvious in their intent. It can take a moment for people to figure out what the heck they are, and why they’re there.
Otherwise, it’s not that bad a design, but not my favorite.
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September 8, 2006 at 11:29 am #3201183
None of the above
by jdclyde · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
Sorry. I know everyone put time and creativity into this, but speaking for myself, I am not much of a “t-shirt” kind of guy.
a simple black polo with the TR logo on the chest. A chest pocket is optional, but nice. I would buy that. I would not buy any of the other t-shirts.
jd
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September 8, 2006 at 12:42 pm #3201153
jd is right-on
by maxwell edison · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to None of the above
How about showing a little class with a polo like jd suggested. T-shirts are unprofessional. And T-shirts with “cute” messages are bound to offend somebody.
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September 9, 2006 at 5:09 pm #3282855
Really Max?
by maecuff · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to jd is right-on
I wouldnt think that you would be the type to be overly concerned about offending others..
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September 9, 2006 at 7:50 pm #3282814
depends on who
by apotheon · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to Really Max?
Keep in mind, he’s talking about t-shirts that might offend conservative businessmen.
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September 9, 2006 at 9:29 pm #3282788
True, I believe people “choose” to be offended. . . .
by maxwell edison · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to Really Max?
…and I don’t usually hold back my thoughts for fear of offending someone. But I don’t set out to do it or intend to do it. I guess I also believe in things like discretion being the better part of valor. And in the case of IT, I’ve never been one to jump onto the “stupid end-user” band wagon. To the contrary, my job, per se, is to serve them, not insult them. And when I say something like, “serve them”, it doesn’t even come close to filling a subservient role. My doctor “serves” my needs, and if he wore a shirt that insinuated something that could be insulting to someone (“I’m wasting my time with another big-mac attack case”), he wouldn’t be my doctor for very long.
On one hand, we (collectively as a profession) expect to be treated like professionals, not a bunch of lackeys. On the other hand, we often come across as a bunch of snobbish lackeys. If we want to be seen a certain way, we must present ourselves a certain way. It’s about as simple as that.
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September 8, 2006 at 11:40 am #3201179
Too easy, Jay- Design 2 “Know your rights”
by tig2 · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
And get them quick- I know about 15 people that NEED that shirt. Perfect for Christmas gift giving!
The pivotal point of this design, the thing that sets it apart is the “If you cannot afford a clue, one will be provided…” Do you have any idea how often I have wanted to say that to someone???
So glad that TR is thinking of offering swag. About time!
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September 8, 2006 at 12:37 pm #3201157
Design #4 (or #5 or #6 or #7 or #8 or . . . . . . . .)
by maxwell edison · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
I don’t like any of them.
However, the least-worst of the worst is design number three (3), the Panic Button shirt, as that doesn’t pay the usual insult to the stereotypical end user as the other two do, especially the “know your rights” shirt, which is the worst of the worst.
Why do IT people feel so compelled to insult end-users? I can’t think of any other profession that stereotypes their customers in such a negative light. And now you want your members to wear the insult like a badge-of-honor on a shirt bearing your very own company name? Sorry, I don’t get the humor, nor would I want to insult my customers (my users) in such a way.
I vote for none of the above.
If I’m limited to only those three, then just like in some general elections, I’ll hold my nose and vote for design number three. It’s the least offensive.
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September 8, 2006 at 2:01 pm #3201121
Ditto
by dmambo · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to Design #4 (or #5 or #6 or #7 or #8 or . . . . . . . .)
MAx and JD are right. I think that you could come up with more creative and POSITIVE designs for a t-shirt, but overall, a black polo with a small TR logo would be more like it.
The “rights” one is dumb!
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September 8, 2006 at 2:20 pm #3201111
Me neither
by blackcurrant · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to Design #4 (or #5 or #6 or #7 or #8 or . . . . . . . .)
Sorry, I don’t find any of them appealing. None of them sum up what TechRepublic is all about. The T-Shirts should promote TR as a professional IT resource without using negative stuff like this.
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September 13, 2006 at 8:22 am #3228164
Insulting the customers
by charliespencer · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to Design #4 (or #5 or #6 or #7 or #8 or . . . . . . . .)
“I can’t think of any other profession that stereotypes their customers in such a negative light.”
Ever worked in the restaurant trade?
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September 13, 2006 at 3:09 pm #3227653
Differences
by oz_media · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to Insulting the customers
Yes I have managed a restaurant but it ws different. We didn’t throw the insults in th ecustoemr’s faces. Nobody wore a t-shirt with a characateur(sp?) of a cheap tipper on it.
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September 13, 2006 at 8:01 pm #3227556
I was a bartender in a restaurant once. . . . .
by maxwell edison · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to Insulting the customers
….does that count as having worked in the restaurant trade?
It was an extremely busy bar as well, especially when the “waiting for a table game” was in full swing, and dozens of folks waited hours for a table. Did I ever insult the customers? Not that I remember. (I did, however, once tell an assistant managers to get his fat ass out from behind my bar!)
Hell, I did the opposite. I flattered them and had fun with them. I got them free munchies from the kitchen. I’d pour double-shots. And my tips were always many times more than the other bartenders. We worked in pairs, and I was always the one others wanted to be paired with because I was a kick-ass bartender and could generate tips better than anyone. Insult them? Hell no, I didn’t insult them! In fact, I kissed their a$$!
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September 14, 2006 at 4:56 pm #3227713
My Fav
by oz_media · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to I was a bartender in a restaurant once. . . . .
Was the little things you can do as ‘the bar guy’.
I would ALWAYS have a lighter in my pocket, sometimes two. If someone reached for a cigarrete and would dash over and light it for them, offer them another drink, some nuts (we had the good Cashews, trail mix and stuff not the cheapo peanuts that low end bars feed you) a clean ashtray etc. anything I coul dsee to make them more comfortable. Sure it was more fo rthe ladies than the guys, we saw nothing but suits that wouldn’t take a helping hand anyway. But by pleasing the ladies (often people’s wives that woul dwit while their hubby spent an evening playing darts with friends)we also pleased the men and the tips were generally in the form of fair sized cheques when they paid thei rweekly or monthly tabs. A few years later I was the one paying my weekly bar tab at the same bar, while the staff took care of me. I didn’t ever see another one who would quickly light a cigarrete for people at the bar though.
It’s those little things that put the cash in hand, not the job itself.
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September 14, 2006 at 5:46 pm #3227701
Pulling a drink
by jdclyde · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to My Fav
as soon as you saw them come in. By the time the sat down, they had their drink.
Walking over to the darters when they are ALMOST out, instead of sitting behind the bar waiting for them to get tired of waiting for someone to check on them.
Feel twice as good about the place, and buy twice as much, twice as often.
Seems like service is a lost art.
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September 15, 2006 at 5:27 am #3228972
One of my Fav events
by hal 9000 · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to My Fav
Was when I was a Consultant Engineer for Ford many years ago I was way up north and pressed into doing some mechanical work as all the guys where busy and I didn’t mind getting my hands dirty when it helped. But I just had to love the [b]Rush Job[/b] that was handed to me was to fit aircon a [b]Rag Top![/b]
I never did fully understand that one and while I would say disparaging things about it’s new owner I would never consider saying any of those things to the person in question even if they totally lacked one single brain cell.
But after the job was finished it was good for a laugh with the rest of the mechanics sitting around talking. 😀
Col
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September 13, 2006 at 9:09 am #3228142
Thank you – Edited
by oz_media · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to Design #4 (or #5 or #6 or #7 or #8 or . . . . . . . .)
I’ve designed some pretty busy looking heavy mnetal shirts but these take the cake.
#1- too busy with a 3D line drawing, doesn’t work on dd angles (ie. the human body)
#2- Text is a nightmare
#3- Huh? Uh, ooookay yeah.
Booo, boooo, boooooo!
And you say HOW many people have been submitting ideas??
With respect to Max’s comments:
I agree that these woul dnot be shirts you would wear onsite or at work, I don’t know if that was the initial intent or just some ‘sinside IT’ humour.Either way, they are not humorous or even slightly amusing. Graphics are terrible and the copy is sad.
Sorry Jay.
EDIT: With the size of TR’s global community (the global aspect being one fo TR’s most appealing features), why not a connected globe ( all connected and wired like those 3D flight path or long-distance maps) with the TR logo under it or something?
A globe with a big question mark in front of it, all wrapped in lines connecting the major cities?
“Tech Rpeublic, bringing the world’s best ideas together” “Tech Rpublic, bringing th eworld’s best IT staf together” something thta focuses on you , not some snotty shot at PC clients, like all thos eother guys do, It’s cheap and unthoughtful.Insulting people? We don’t really do that at TR do we (tee hee)?
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September 8, 2006 at 2:13 pm #3201114
Design #3: Panic Button
by apotheon · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
Aside from the fact that it’s the least “juvenile” of the three, it’s also the shirt design that best advertises for TechRepublic. Think about it: the cupholder just recycles a tired old joke (though it’s a really good joke) based on a story of a “dumb user”, and the “know your rights” shirt ends with a jab at end-users.
I think the other two designs would possibly be good to offer as you add more designs to the TR store, but the panic button t-shirt is by far the best of the three to be offered initially. We all have our juvenile moments, and the other two shirts scratch that itch, but the “panic button” shirt is one I’d wear to the office on “casual friday”, and its theme makes a direct connection to TechRepublic in a positive light.
While I would love to see the black polo suggested by jdclyde, and it would serve well for a lot of techs to wear to work, it would probably be the second TR shirt I’d want, right after the panic button t-shirt.
Thems is my thoughts.
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September 8, 2006 at 2:33 pm #3201105
Panic Button
by tony hopkinson · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
Course seeing as I’m in the UK, so I propably won’t get one. I want I wish we were still british on it as well.
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September 8, 2006 at 5:13 pm #3201053
Panic Button
by thechas · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
Hard Choices Jay.
I almost went with Know Your Rights but decided that Panic Button more properly publicizes Tech Republic.
While Not a Cup Holder is cute, I don’t want to do anything that promotes computer misuse.
Chas
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September 8, 2006 at 7:19 pm #3201025
Design # 3 :^0 Cus the others can’t read :8}
by hal 9000 · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
Though I personally wouldn’t wear it to work. :p
But actually it’s a bit of a [b]Hard Choice[/b] as they are all aimed at different sectors of the market the Cup Holder would most commonly apply to the Home User the Know Your Rights would most commonly apply to the Corporate IT Person and the Panic Button applies to the Independent Consultants.
But having said that I like them all and they would all be great to have available I would buy them as [b]Give Aways[/b] for some of my customers and chose the right one for the customer as they all have a great sense of humour and would appreciate the gesture. 🙂
I actually quite like the white one that I already have and it looks great on [b]SHMBO[/b] as she opened he package and had to try it on to see how it fitted [i]and streached it in all the wrong places[/i] so that was the last that I ever saw of it as a possible T Shirt for me to wear. Over the years she has worn all my company supplied clothes and regularly gives away most of them it’s funny to see several school kids wearing Racing Shirts that are only worn by the Team and once I leave that job I never see the Shirts again. 🙁
While I can’t speak for others I find T Shirts fairly useless for work as I need [b]POCKETS[/b] to shove all the stuff that I have to carry with me that are too small to fit into anything else, You know things like Floppies and the like which are a [b]Must Have[/b] item most of the time when at work. :_|
[b][i]Sorry[/b][/i] Jay I didn’t mean to use those nasty [b]4 Letter Words[/b] I’ll go slap my wrists. 😀
Col [i]Angelic Emotion inserted here[/i]
[i]Edited to fix a Typo and add a mental note to Remember to change the Keyboard batteries they are going flat again and missing keystrokes.[/i] X-( -
September 9, 2006 at 2:28 am #3200977
None of these
by jardinier · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
Design #1. The cup holder is just plain stupid — juvenile I would suggest — a very lame old joke.
Design #2. The Police Lights do not seem relevant. The general idea I like, but as some others have mentioned, it could be seen as offensive to some clients/customers. I would be interested to see this concept, but phrased in a way that is totally humorous and not offensive.
Design #3. This conveys nothing to me.
Instead of asking us to choose between three designs which most members have indicated that they don’t particularly like, why don’t you invite [b]ideas[/b] from TRIs as to a design that might be more suitable. I am in favour of a message on the back, but something that is genuinely funny while not being potentially offensive.
As for the TR logo on the front, how about including: Real World; Real Time; Real IT.
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September 9, 2006 at 4:56 am #3200968
Here’s a shirt idea.
by apotheon · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to None of these
It’s probably a bad idea to actually produce this shirt, since I’m pretty sure nobody would buy it, but here it is anyway:
[b]#!/usr/bin/perl -l
sub TechRepublic {
my $foo = 0;
my @real = qw(World Time IT);
return sub { $fake = $real[$foo]; $foo++; return $fake; };
}$real = TechRepublic();
print(‘Real ‘, $real->()) for (1..3);[/b]
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September 9, 2006 at 8:04 am #3200943
As I do not know any programming code
by jardinier · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to Here’s a shirt idea.
I don’t know what this says, but I could make a rough guess.
But in all seriousness, perhaps it would not be such a bad idea for the back of the shirt — not necessarily your example, but some code. There are a lot of people around who are computer savvy and who might recognise this as a sign of genuine IT knowledge.
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September 9, 2006 at 10:10 am #3282955
quick explanation
by apotheon · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to As I do not know any programming code
It implements a completely gratuitous lexical closure to iterate over an array (list variable) that is used to print out the following:
[b]Real World
Real Time
Real IT[/b]I was inspired by the previous comment.
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September 9, 2006 at 10:05 am #3282958
I actually like one I saw a few years back
by jdclyde · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to Here’s a shirt idea.
but it was for checking if someone had a clue or not. 😀
Don’t know perl, so it took me a minute to walk through what this was doing. Got it. B-)
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September 9, 2006 at 5:10 am #3200967
None of the Above
by bfilmfan · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
Sorry Jay, but I don’t care for any of the current proposed designs.
I honestly think the logo on the left side of the header at the top of the page says it best:
TechRepublic
Real World.Real Time.Real IT.Put that on a shirt and I will buy it.
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September 9, 2006 at 10:13 am #3282954
good point
by apotheon · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to None of the Above
The panic button shirt would be great for give-aways, either for regular users who “earn” it in some way or simply at trade shows and the like. Something that just uses the logo and has the slogan writ large on the back would be more attractive as an initial offering for purchase, I think.
. . . as backwards as that sounds.
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September 9, 2006 at 11:08 am #3282935
but would you really give away
by jdclyde · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to good point
a shirt for anything other than your own company? Who do you want them to remember, you or TR?
Sorry to rain on the parade here, but…..
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September 9, 2006 at 1:30 pm #3282901
You misunderstand.
by apotheon · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to but would you really give away
I was talking about TR giveaways, not for us to buy them from TR then give them away to others.
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September 9, 2006 at 6:07 pm #3282838
oops
by jdclyde · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to You misunderstand.
my bad. Clearly misunderstood.
😀
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September 9, 2006 at 7:53 pm #3282810
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September 9, 2006 at 11:40 am #3282925
Agreed
by jamesrl · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to None of the Above
on both counts – I am not a fan of the any of the proosals, and something more straightfroward would be fine.
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September 12, 2006 at 2:37 am #3226748
None – and just remember you asked for this…..! :D
by gadgetgirl · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
I agree with a lot of the above peers – these designs would be ok for a give away at shows/conferences etc. and would promote the fact that TR peeps do have a sense of humour.
But for Us Stalwarts – nah.
Something plain and classy. Smartly casual, as it were.
Think of it this way – look at the promotion you’ll get when we’re wearing them. Class them as a Badge of Honour.
Agree with James – keep it short and simple.
You could even slightly amend the logo year on year, so they become collectors items.
If you so desired, you could also promote an “annual charity” – e.g. for Tig, have the TR logo, with a pink ribbon for Breast Cancer underneath (or a pink and blue for Male Breast cancer – or the option)for one year; next run (or batch) make it the Red Band of Hope for MS.
Catch my drift?
You want people to notice these t-shirts, and be noticed in them. The only way to do that is to make them a) value for money b)wearable for lots of occasions, and c) NOT TACKY!!!
Going back to the Pink Ribbon Brigade, we did actually become that, in real time. Your tag line could always be along the lines of:
TR – Join the Real AND Virtual Community
Just my 2pworth Jay. You asked, you got it.
Despite me [b] never, ever [/b] having received the t-shirt after sending you my contact details….
I think I’ll tell the Spandex on you….. :p
GG
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September 12, 2006 at 4:31 am #3226729
Thanks GG!
by tig2 · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to None – and just remember you asked for this…..! :D
I have been trying for awhile to figure out who I would need to talk to about incorporating the TR logo with a pink ribbon for a fundraising effort. I would definitely be willing to provide any graphic necessary to make that happen. And I would be MOST willing to help in any way needed. You know me- there is nothing closer to my heart.
In reading the feedback, it occurs to me that a denim button down might be a perfect vehicle for the TR logo- acceptable in most offices, wearable in most climates.
The only tee-shirts I wear are awareness oriented. I have enough friends in the biz that love the “stupid user” jokes that would love design 2 and probably as many that would enjoy design 3. I can see giving them as gifts.
Put a pink ribbon on it, and I will wear it.
I’m working on an idea for the next 3 Day to show off the Pink Ribbon Brigade. Not sure how it will work so not saying much yet. Stay tuned!
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September 12, 2006 at 6:06 am #3226678
Welcome, Tig
by gadgetgirl · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to Thanks GG!
I was just trying to think of a way of combining our little home-from-home with a little help for good causes. Seemed obvious, really.
Well, once the brain starts working…..!
Intrigued about the next 3 day/PRBrigade…if you need a sounding board, you know where I am (like, right now…..! I wanna know!!)
(You get my pm, btw?)
GG
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September 12, 2006 at 6:22 am #3226667
Yep
by tig2 · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to Welcome, Tig
Look for a reply, hopefully today.
I’ll let you in on what I am thinking for the next PRBrigade. Would really like to show it off and don’t have a lot of time to put something together. I have a fundraiser at the end of the month and another the first week of October so need to get moving.
Watch your mail! 🙂
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September 12, 2006 at 5:53 am #3226691
The only problem
by jdclyde · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to None – and just remember you asked for this…..! :D
Would they make something “plain and classy” in KID sizes? :0
😡
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September 12, 2006 at 5:59 am #3226685
Why not?
by gadgetgirl · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The only problem
but then again, WHY?
If you’re talking seagull posters, they won’t hang around long enough to buy one….
if you’re talking “Things” – hey, why can’t YOUR boys be classy, too???
😡
GG
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September 13, 2006 at 12:02 pm #3228077
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September 13, 2006 at 2:28 am #3228291
well..
by shellbot · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
not 100% mad on any of them, BUT if i had to choose one, it would be
Know your Rights
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September 17, 2006 at 10:59 pm #3229151
Totally unrelated Jay
by hal 9000 · about 17 years, 7 months ago
In reply to The TR T-Shirt Era has arrived!
But are you aware that when you try to log into a Q&A question that you are subscribed to you are now getting the following error?
Invalid Forum!
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